Alliances for STEM Skills Foundries

The call for proposals titled "Alliances for STEM Skills Foundries" (ERASMUS-EDU-2026-PI-ALL-INNO-STEM) is part of the Erasmus+ Programme aiming to foster collaboration among higher education institutions, vocational education and training (VET) providers, and business companies. This initiative seeks to bridge the talent gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines through innovative educational approaches, providing young entrepreneurs with critical business insights and mentoring opportunities.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions holding a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education, VET providers, private enterprises, venture capital firms, and intermediary organizations. The consortium must consist of at least eight members from a minimum of four different EU Member States or associated third countries, including at least three education and training providers and three labour market actors.

The funding is provided as ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants, with a total budget of €67 million allocated for this action in 2026. The application process is a single-stage open call, with submissions required by March 10, 2026. Following an evaluation period from March to July 2026, grant agreements will be signed by the end of 2026.

This opportunity specifically targets strategic sectors identified in the EU’s Competitiveness Compass, focusing on advancing technical education and skills, fostering entrepreneurship, and supporting intellectual property development. Applicants are encouraged to obtain additional funding from national or private sources to ensure project sustainability.

The process includes comprehensive proposals with a maximum of 120 pages, and while specific success rates have not been detailed, historical data suggests typical success rates within the range of 10-39%.

In summary, the "Alliances for STEM Skills Foundries" initiative under the Erasmus+ Programme aims to enhance educational innovation and entrepreneurship in STEM fields through strategic alliances, ultimately strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in key industrial areas. Interested parties are encouraged to consult the Erasmus+ Programme Guide for further details on eligibility, criteria, and resources available for application support.

The ERASMUS-EDU-2026-PI-ALL-INNO-STEM call, under the Erasmus+ Programme, focuses on Partnerships for Innovation, specifically Alliances for Innovation. It falls under the ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants type of action, utilizing the ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant [ERASMUS-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement. This is a forthcoming, single-stage call.

The scope of this call is Lot 3: STEM Skills Foundries. STEM Skills Foundries aim to foster sectorial, transnational, and sustainable cooperation among higher education institutions, VET providers, and business companies. The goal is to promote innovative and multidisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning, providing young student entrepreneurs with business insights and mentoring tailored to their needs. The focus includes fostering innovation and entrepreneurial mindsets, providing access to laboratories, technical infrastructure, and equipment, supporting intellectual property (IP) development, guiding master's theses or business ideas, and facilitating access to venture capital in strategic sectors identified in the Competitiveness Compass. Projects should boost innovation through cooperation between higher education and VET providers, labor market actors, entrepreneurial entities, and potentially venture capital funds, facilitated by EIT KICs.

Key dates include: Publication of the call on 28 November 2025, a deadline for submitting applications on 10 March 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time), an evaluation period from March to July 2026, information to applicants by September 2026, and signature of the grant agreement between September and December 2026.

Regarding admissibility conditions, proposal page limits and layout are described in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 and Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System. The page limit for Part B (Technical Description) is 120 pages for all 3 Lots, including the list of relevant previous projects. Layout is described in the Important Notice of the application form. Eligible countries and other eligible conditions, financial and operational capacity and exclusion, submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring and thresholds, and the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are all described in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026. The legal and financial set-up of the grants is not applicable (n/a).

Application form templates include a Standard application form (ERASMUS BB and LSII) and a Detailed budget table (ERASMUS LSII). Guidance documents include the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 and Model Grant Agreements (MGA), specifically the Lump Sum MGA. Additional documents include the ERASMUS+ Work Programme, ERASMUS Regulation 2021/817, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, guidance on managing lump sum grants, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The total budget for the topic in 2026 is 67,000,000 EUR. This is a single-stage application process. The planned opening date is 04 December 2025, and the deadline is 10 March 2026.

There are partner search announcements available. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

For help, applicants can contact EACEA-EPLUS-ALLIANCES@ec.europa.eu. Additional resources include the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ for proposal submissions, the IT Helpdesk for technical issues, and the Online Manual for a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.

In summary, this Erasmus+ call focuses on creating STEM Skills Foundries through alliances that promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students by connecting higher education, VET providers, and businesses. It aims to provide students with access to resources, mentorship, and venture capital opportunities. The call is structured as a lump sum grant, with a single-stage application process. Applicants should consult the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 and other provided documents for detailed information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and application procedures. The total budget available is 67 million EUR.

Eligible Applicant Types: Higher education institutions, VET providers, and business companies are explicitly mentioned as potential participants. The inclusion of venture capital funds is also noted. The call is targeted towards entities that can foster cooperation between education and the business world, with a focus on entrepreneurship.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant (ERASMUS-LS).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity aims to create transnational cooperation, suggesting that a consortium of multiple applicants is required. The description emphasizes cooperation between higher education institutions, VET providers, and business companies.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated in the provided text, but since it falls under the Erasmus+ Programme, it is likely that the eligibility extends to EU member states and potentially other countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme. The text mentions "transnational cooperation," which implies that the opportunity is open to multiple countries. Further details on eligible countries can be found in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026.

Target Sector: The program targets the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) sector, with a focus on fostering innovation and entrepreneurial mindsets among young students. It also touches upon education and venture capital. The strategic sectors are identified in the Competitiveness Compass.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the program falls under the Erasmus+ Programme, implying that it is primarily focused on the European Union and associated countries.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be geared towards development and validation, with an emphasis on providing young student entrepreneurs access to resources, supporting the development of intellectual property, and facilitating access to venture capital. This suggests that the projects should be beyond the initial idea stage and ready for development and potential commercialization.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the broader call (Partnerships for Innovation - Alliances for Innovation) is EUR 67,000,000. However, the specific budget allocated to Lot 3: STEM Skills Foundries is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. The funding is provided as lump sum grants.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by the "Call for proposals" designation. The deadline model is single-stage.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of lump sum grants. The program also provides non-monetary services such as access to laboratories, technical infrastructures, equipment, mentoring, and guidance in developing intellectual property and business ideas.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, as indicated by the "single-stage" deadline model.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This opportunity, "Alliances for STEM Skills Foundries" (Lot 3) under the Erasmus+ Programme, aims to foster sectorial, transnational, and sustainable cooperation between higher education institutions, VET providers, and business companies. The goal is to promote innovative approaches to teaching and learning, specifically by supporting young student entrepreneurs in STEM fields. The program will provide access to laboratories, technical infrastructure, equipment, and mentoring, as well as guidance in developing intellectual property and business ideas. The projects should boost innovation through cooperation among higher education and VET providers with labour market and entrepreneurial actors, with possible participation of venture capital funds, facilitated by EIT KICs. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, and the application process is single-stage. The call is open to higher education institutions, VET providers, and business companies, and the total budget for the broader call is EUR 67,000,000. The application deadline is March 10, 2026. Applicants should consult the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 for detailed information on eligibility criteria, evaluation processes, and other relevant guidelines. The call aims to bridge the gap between education and the business world, fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and supporting the development of innovative STEM-based ventures.